Concrete building



@cit. 23, 1923.

W. c. FLANNERY CONCRETE BUILDING Original Filed Aug. 26, 1915 2Sheets-Sheet l I I 0 7 at Z2.

(kit. 23 11923.

w. c. FLANNER'Y CONCRETE BUILDING Original Filed Aug. 26, 1915 2SheetsSheet 2 gnucn for Ill) Patented @ct. 23, EFZEQ am as inner curWILLIAM C. FLANNERY, OF ELKRIDGE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS,-OF SEVENTY-FIVE PER CENT TO M. MARKHAM PLANNER! ANDTWENTY-FIVE PER CENT TO C. CALVERT HINES, BOTH OF WASHINGTON,

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Application filed June 22, 1916, Serial No. 105,108.

7 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM C. Friar?- xnnr. a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Elkridge, in the county .of Howard and State ofMaryland, have invented new and useful Improvements in ConcreteBuildings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to concrete buildings, and particularly toimprovements 1n the construction of garages, dwellings and other houses,factories and other similar buildings. and the present application is acontinuation in part of my prior application Number 47.410. filed August26, 1915.

The object of the invention is to provide a building structure formed ofpre-cast or molded elements of concrete of a character capable of beingquickly and inexpensively assembled so as to produce a strong anddurable structure which may be made as ornamental in appearanceasdesired.

A further object of the invention 'is to provide a concrete buildingstructure in which the parts are locked and bound together in apractically homogeneous manner, and in which the time and expense oflabor incident to grading, plumbing and squaring of the upright frameelements and erection of the component parts of the structure arereduced to the minimum.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a buildingstructure in which the walls are composed of interlocking posts andslabs. and in which the posts are provided with lateral projectionsforming engaging members and sill pieces and cooperating with each otheror with related sill ieces to furnish a strong and durable type of basefor the frame portion and other component parts of the walls of thestructure.

A still further object ofthe invention is to provide a buildingstructure including units formed of posts having sill forming portionsand anchoring portions, all cast or molded in a. single piece.

A still further object of the invention is to "provide improved meansfor uniting the postsand slabs and elements of the base portion of thestructure, as well as improved means for uniting the upper ends of theposts and supporting a desired type of roof.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thefeatures of con- (ZONCRETE BUILDING.

Renewed September 21, 1920. serial in). 41mm.

struction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts wh ch willbe herein- .after described, pointed out in the appended claims andillustrated in the accompanying Figure 4 is a detail horizontal section,on

an enlarged scale, through a post and one of the slabs, showing thereinforcing and connecting means;

Figure 5 is a sectional view throu h one of the slabs and illustratingthe rein orcing means thereof;

Figure 6 is a view of one of the'keys or clips employed in the buildingstructure;

Figure 7 is a vertical section through the base and one of the bottomslabs as they appear prior to the filling in of, the sealing and bindingcement;

Figure 8 is a detail section through the upper end of one of the posts;

Figure 9 is a detail section on the line 99 of Figure 2;

Figure 10 is a vertical section similar to Fi ure 7 showing a modifiedstructure.

eferring now more particularly to the drawings, 1 designates a buildingstructure, preferably, but not necessarily, of rectangular or oblongrectangular form, and which may be in the nature of a garage, dwellingor other house stable or other small building. This building is shown inthe present instance as being constructed to receive a sloping roof, andas being built minus the floor, windows and doors, but it is to beunderstood that any type of roof, doors and windows may be employed,sothat with certain exceptions a specific description thereof isunnecessary.

As illustrated, the structure is shown as comprising a base 2, cornerposts 3, intermedlate posts 4, wall slabs or panels 5, and sill pieces6. Thevbase 2 is illustrated in the structure shown in Figures 1 to 9,inclusive, as consisting of individual or sep arate intermediate sillpieces 6 and sill pieces 7 molded with and formed by horizontalorlateral projections from the posts 3 and 4,

' sill projections .bedding the anchoring 'ment poured into holes 1n theground receiving said anchoring portions in such a said intermediatesill pieces being composed of blocks preferably halved at their ends tooverlap the similarly halved ends of the sill projections 7 to formscarf joints, the aforesaid elements being suitably united at theiroverlappin points, as by bolts 8 The of the corner post 3 are disposedat right angles to each other, as will be readily understood, and itwill be noted that all of the posts are .provided with anchorinportioris 9 which, in practice, are embe ded in the ground or otherfoundation. The posts are thus constructed to provide building units ofa novel type, each consisting of a post body proper having lateral sillprojections .and an anchoring portion, thus (providing for the formationof a strong an durable type of sill structure or base and anchoringmembers. When the .parts of the base are united the floor of thebuilding, which may be of cement or other suitable material, is filledin or laid in any suitable manner, thus forming a firm, strong anddurable bottom support, and the strength of this may be mcreased bemortions 9 1n cemanner as to invest the anchoring portions therein.Where the distance between adjoining posts is not objectionahly great,the intermediate sill pieces 2 may be dispensed with and the cooperatingsill projections 77' extended the full distance between the posts anddirectly united by suitable means, as

by tie bolts 8, as illustrated in Figure 10'.

The wall slabs or panels 5 are cast or molded in rectangular or oblongrectangular form, and the inner faces of these slabs are or may be planesurfaced, while the outer faces thereof are or may be recessed" orpaneled, as shown, to produce adesired ornamental effect. These slabsfit down between the posts and are suitably reinforced, the body of eachslab bein shown in the present instance as provide witha marginalreinforcement 10 of rods or bars connected by angular corner pieces 11which are lashed or otherwise suitably secured thereto, together withcentrally disposed vertically and horizontally extending a reinforcingrods 12, whereby the slab is rendered throughout of maximum strength anddurability. The sill. pieces and lateral sill projections of the postsare formed in their upper faces with grooves or recesses 13 whichintersect vertical grooves 14 formed in .the sides of the posts, and theend edges of the slabs 5 are provided with similar horizontal grooves 15and vertical grooves 16, which register with the respective grooves 13and 14 when the parts are united, the grooves 13 and. 15 being deepenedor inclined in opposite directions between the opposite end grooves.

I When the (posts are set up and united-in v the manner escribed to formthe base and frame, the walls are formed by fitting the slabs in thereceiving spaces between the posts, and when the said slabs are placed mposition they are fastened against displacement to the posts and to eachother b means of connecting members or clips I; which are arranged toengage the grooves between the meeting edges of the posts and slabs soas to hold said slabs preliminarily locked and in alinement with eachother. As shown in the present instance, the grooves are preferablyV-shaped, each flaring toward its mouth, and the clips or connectors 17are in the form of hexagonal rings which fit within the grooves and holdthe slabs stably connected. The posts and slabs are then permanentlyunited by flowing a fluid cement, such as grout, .into the A verticalgrooves so as to fill the same, the

together in a substantially homogeneous man:

ner. The cement will also envelop the clips or connectors 17 and holdthem bound in position, while the cement filling the grooves in the sillpieces will invest the bolts 8 and 8' and fasten them against anypossibility of casual displacement. All the elements of the buildingstructure will thus be tied so rigidly together that an exceedinglystrongand rigid type of building may be constructed without thenecessity of using parts of material thickness. Hence all the parts ofthe structure may be made and shipped with facility from a factory tothe point of use, or built directly at the point of use, and theoperation of assembling the parts to form the frame and base and thenerecting thereon the slabs to form the walls may be readily, quickly andeasily erformed, so that a structure of any given .size withindetermined limits may be erected with great ease, convenience andeconomy. As the parts are pre-cast or molded, and cured to a definitedegree before use, a moisture-proof structure will-also be provided.Furthermore, as the cement seals the walls against the access of bothair and moisture, a building is produced which may be readily warmed incold weather.

In the construction of a building which is to be provided with windows,the windows may be inserted to take the place of individual slabs, andwhere doors of various constructions are to be used the building may beconstructed with due regard thereto. Assuming that the building is to beused as a garage, it will, of course, be understood that it will bebuilt with one end open and the door frame and door built in in anysuitable manner at the open end. As 1;

framemay be astened to support any type of door. In casting or moldingthe posts a and slabs the faces of these elements may be given a surfacefinish of marble, granite or other stone, or may be pebble-dashed bycoating such faces with the surfacing while "the plastic-material. isstill moist, and therefore it will be obvious that an edifice which ishighly ornamental and esthetic in appear ance may be built at acomparatively low cost. Any suitable type'of roof may be pro vided forthe completed building. As shown in the present instance, the uppercourse of slabs may be diamond shaped or otherwise formed with inclinededges to provide a sloping surface for the roof, and to provide for thesupport of the roof strips 20 of wood or metal are laid upon saidinclin'ed edges and provided with openings for the passage of bolts 21,to which strips or bolts are secured the rafters or stringers 22 onwhich the roof is suspended. To provide for any certain slope,particularly where the upper course slabs ofthe side walls are ofminimum depth or less depth than full depth slabs, concrete filler bars23 may be provided to fill in the spaces be neaththe roof 24 and betweenthe same and the wall of slabs at one end and the doorframe at theopposite end, as will be readily understood.

Where the structure is to be sheathed or lathed for the reception of aninterior facing or lining, it will be understood that the sheathing orits equivalent ma be secured to the posts and slabs or to bloc sembedded therein, and suitable means of this kind may also be providedto which an ordinary base board or wash board may be secured. In aaddition to any surface finishing the slabs may be of the same orcontrasting colors, and it will be evident that in addition to providinga structure which is proof against the elements. such a structure isalso of maximum strength, rigidity and durability, and also absolutelyfireproof.

An important feature of my invention resides in the novel and peculiarconstruction of the posts 4 of T-shaped or cross-shaped formation attheir lower ends, whereby the lateral extensions 7 or 7' are provided.

These lateral extensions serve as gauging elements which, when broughtinto alinement and lapped at the time the posts are set in the holes inthe ground or into sock ets in asuitably prepared foundation, effect thesimultaneous plumbing and squaring of adjacent posts in a singleoperation, as well as the spacing of the posts measured (the exactdistance) apart. By this means considerable time and labor are saved inthe setting up of the framework, and also the necessity of employingskilled labor or of making time-consuming measurements and adjustmentsare avoided. By this automatic spacing and squaring of the posts, i. e.,the bringing of the grooved faces of adjacent posts in exact parallelrelation, another important advantage is obtained, in that the matinggrooves in the sills and adjacent posts are properly arranged andbrought into exact re istry. Hence when the slabs are fitted in positionaccuracy of fit is ensured, together with exact registration of thegrooves in the assembled parts, enabling the fasteners to be readilyapplied and the grout flowed into the grooves from the top of a tier ofassembled slabs to positively effect the simultaneous filling of all theregistering grooves to bind and lock all of the marginal surfaces of theassembled elements together. As a result the parts of the structure maybe assembled by ordinary laborers exercising only an average degree ofcare and intelligence with the absolute assurance that the elements will.be properly and securely united and accurately fitted together withgreat ease and rapidity. It will be evident that the sill extensions tiethe lower ends of the posts together, and thus make a strongerstructure, and that they further form a base support for the tiers ofslabs, on which the lower slab of each tier rests, thus more effectuallysustaining the weight of the slabs and tying the units together andmaking a solid wall structure even with the use of comparatively lightposts and slabs. The sills may therefore serve as the foundation itselfwhen a sub-foundation is not used, and as a super-foundation to givegreater strength when a sub-foundation is used. In constructing abuilding with a wooden floor, or other floor having supporting rafters.the sill extensions may be employed as a direct support for theserafters, thus enabling rafter sill plates to be dispensed with. inerecting the posts it is only necessary to set the anchoring portions 9in their receiving holes or sockets and to rest the sill extensions onthe leveled earth, a leveled foun dation or leveled sub-sills or piers,and to form the sockets or holes without any particular regard to theirdepth in order to have the upper ends of the posts terminate tions fromthe posts, which extend between the posts and beneath the tiers ofslabs, the

weight of the slabs is substantially sustained by the base support thusproduced and removed from the grout or cement binder, thus relieving thebinder from the stram of the weight of the slabs and more thoroughlyensuring the solidity and integrity\ of the structure. With thisconstruction the weight .of the slabs resting upon the sills of the oststends not only to hold the parts assemb ed by reason of their weight,irrespective of fastening means between them, but, in the event of therecession of the earth beneath any portion of the building, sagging ofthe overlying posts will be pre-' vented, inasmuch as by the joiningofthe posts by the sill projectings' and, through the wei ht of the slabsresting upon said sill PIOJGCtiOIlS, the parts of the structure will beheld rigidly in alinement.

While the structural details herein set forth are preferred, and thestructure illustrated embodies the means best known at this time forcarrying my invention into practical eilect, it will of course beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the particular detailsof constructionspecified for purposes of exemplification, but thatmodifications falling within the scope of the invention as specified inthe claims may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing'anyof the advantages of the invention. 7

I claim as my invention:

1. A concrete structure including a body having side walls formed ofposts, main slabs, and top slabs having upper. inclined edges forming asloping top surface, supporting strips laid upon said sloping topsurface, transverse stringers supported by said strips, roof supportingmembers laid 'upon said stringers, and transverse filler bars at theends of the body between said supporting strips and the level of theupper edges of the main slabs o-fsaid side walls.

2. A concrete structure including posts having anchoring and sillportions, the latter being extended laterally to form a porteaser 'forthe latter.

tion of the base of the structure and hav- Y ing their outer endsreduced, connecting elements having reduced ends in interlappingrelation with the reduced ends of said sill portions, main slabs mountedbetween said posts, .top slabs having their upper surfaces sloping, anda roof structure supported. upon said top slabs.

3. A concrete structure comprising posts having vertical grooves andincluding anchoring and sill portions, the latterbeing extendedlaterally and having grooves in their upper surfaces, slabs mountedbetween said posts and having marginal grooves 'registering with thegrooves in said posts and" S111 portions, and a binder element in saidposts, sill pieces molded with the posts and extending beneath theslabs, said posts, slabs and sill pieces having-their opposed facesgrooved, and a binder arranged within" the grooves and interlocking saidparts.-

6. In a building structure, a building unit I comprising a moldedconcrete post of cruciform shape at its lower end, the vertical portionof which forms an anchoring'member at the base of the post and thelateral portions of which form sill pieces disposed in the samehorizontal plane and arranged at the j said'anchoring member. Y

7. A concrete structure including molde nature of the body or the postand concrete posts, and tiers of slabs filling the. space betweenadjacent, posts, each. of said vposts having a lower anchoring end and.arms projecting laterally from the post body-at its juncture with saidanchoring end, the laterally extending arms of adjacent sides of adoining posts being arranged in alinement and extending beneaththe'intervening tier of slabs and forming a sill support therefor, said armshaving lapping meeting ends adapted in the operation of bringing themtogether to simultaneously level, plumb and square said posts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.I

. WILLIAM FLANNERY. Witnesses: 1

EVA W. SPRINGER, BENNETI S. Jones.

structure including molded

